The ubiquitous Christmas cookie, these delicious treats never go out of style. There is something so terribly addictive about the rich butter cookie studded with bits of pecan and rolled in powdered sugar. These are really fun to make with kids, too.

Let them help you roll the dough into balls before baking, then finish them off with powdered sugar at the end. In fact, the first time I made these with my daughter she called them “snowball cookies!” No matter the name they are the ultimate holiday classic everyone loves.

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

2 cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup pecans, finely chopped

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup confectioners’ sugar

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 325ºF.

2. In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Then add the vanilla and mix again.

3. With the mixer on low add the flour and beat just until everything is incorporated. Use a wooden spoon to stir the pecans into this mixture.

4. Roll the dough into teaspoon sized balls and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the tops of the cookies are light brown.

5. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Then, pour the confectioners’ sugar into a small bowl and roll each cookie in it so that it is fully coated.

Kelsey Banfield, The Naptime Chef, believes parents don't have to give up being foodies just because they have kids. Kelsey's website features webisodes, recipes and ideas on how to fit delicious food into everyday life, without compromising quality or taste. Kelsey is also the author of the newly published cookbook, The Naptime Chef Fitting Great Food Into Family Life.